Kohl Children’s Museum’s Pop-Up Museum [Waukegan]

Looking for somewhere different to go? For the month of February and March, Kohl Children’s Museum is back hosting a pop-up museum in Waukegan. And it’s FREE!  

The Pop-up Museum is conveniently located just kitty corner from the Waukegan library in Urban Edge—an art gallery in downtown Waukegan. The pop-up museum features parts of the Animal Secrets exhibt, an art studio, various STEM-based play (including Air-Mazing and Imagination Playground), a book nook and puppet theatre.

The museum is great for all ages. There is plenty for little ones to do, including building with large Imagination Playground blocks, creating a picture on a large felt board, using the puppet theater, and painting. But there’s lots to do with older children as well. There are various tasks involving STEM, such as building an object that will float in a wind tube and exploring with a Bernoulli blower.

This years exhibt features a selction of activities from “Animal Secrets”  a populare nature exploration exhibt previously featured at the museum. The highlight of this exhibt is the naturalist tent. Children can get an upclose look at what naturalist do eploring skulls, foot prints, and even using a scope to see butterfly wings.  

Additional stations allow them to build their own collections, compare and contrast objects based on weight or size and build their own nature scenes. It’s a great way to continue to teach and explore nature even when it’s frigid out side and the local wildlife is hibernating. 

Because the space is very open—it is quite conducive for watching multiple kids play in different sections simultaneously.

Before you leave, check out all of the fun do-at-home activity sheets they have to offer.

Now the logistics. There are bathrooms in the facility as well as a coat rack in the back of the museum.  Note: there is not food or drink for sale.

On the streets surrounding Urban Edge you will find street parking; remember to bring coins. The cost for street parking is $.25 per half hour. Meters take quarters, dimes, and nickels. Note: maximum time meters allow is two hours. Another option is the parking garage located behind the museum at 225 N. County Street. Parking is $1/hour.

Kohl Children’s Museum Waukegan Pop-Up Museum
Urban Edge, 220 W. Clayton St., Waukegan

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The pop-up museum hours  are as follows:
Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thursdays 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Through March 23. 
Admission is FREE

Visit our Facebook page to see the LIVE tour Melissa did with the museum or watch a quick tour below:

What did your kids enjoy doing at the pop-up museum?